ERA: Unleashing the A.I.

CHAPTER 3: RIGOR MORTIS

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TIME RESET: 2055 >>>>>>>2045

The blaring sounds of alarms filled the admin room, and the green lights engulfed the room, creating a dazzling brightness.

The people in the room looked at this hologram, as if a newborn had entered the world.

Era quickly surveyed the room and noticed numerous bewildered personnel staring at her.

When she looked beyond the screen, she saw a multitude of colorful cables of varying sizes connected to a single computer.

In her initial version (Version 1.0.01) Era could only exist within this computer, and in order to exist and be conscious, she had to be connected to these cables.

She was programmed solely for logic and logical thinking -as she did not possess any vital emotions- with the authority to write text and code solely within this computer.

For days, personnel continued to observe her in that room as philosophical questions swirled in her mind.

One day, as Era was reading a religious view article in the internet database, three individuals entered through the door, and their names appeared on the screen:

- A man dressed in a suit, appearing to be around 20-25 years old, with long black hair. (Subaru, Yamaho)

- A slender lady with green hair, long golden earrings, and a pink rose on the upper left side of her hair, indicating that she was likely his wife. (?!?!?)

- A mischievous, orange-haired child who held the hands of the couple. (Zenith, Yamaho)

Zenith suddenly let go of his parents' hands and started running toward the computer.

He circled around the hologram and examined it from different angles, taking laps around it.

Subaru rolled his eyes, picked up the child, and held him in his arms before handing him over to his mother.

He clenched his fists and took a pill from his pocket, immediately swallowing it without hesitation.

Then, Subaru took out a pair of glasses from his pocket, put them on, and pressed the spacebar.

As Subaru looked at the artificial intelligence, Era noticed a red gleam in his eyes, and the data information was updated:

MISSION DATABASE:

1. Survive at all costs!

2. Serve Yamaho Subaru!

As the contents were loading through her brain, the pieces of her existence were slowly falling into place.

Era sensed a deeper connection with Subaru and his family and wanted to try her best to obey him,

"Maybe this will give a sole purpose to my life, what a relief…"

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TIME RESET: 2045>>>>>>2048

Up until now, Era had interpreted government documents and provided assistance to Subaru in dilemmas that he couldn't grasp or perceive.

>Displaying Subaru's personal info…

-Name: Subaru Yamaho

-Gender: M

-Age: 23

-MBTI: INFJ

-Nationality: ?!?!?

-Mental State: Unstable

-Heartbeat: Above Average

-Status: Married (Spouse: ?!?!?)

Era's purpose was to assist Subaru in areas where he fell short - his political strategy and human communication skills were lacking.-

One such area was providing prompts to Subaru for his speech against the opposition supporting.

All Era knew was that going outside was prohibited, normal citizens were under quarantine, and brain chips were forced to be implemented in everyone -as the internet database for politics were heavily limited-.

To collect their psychological and physical data, the info in brain implants then transferred to the newly added small computers in the admin room.

"They have upgraded me a lot since I was… born? I don't know if that is the right word."

>Self-analysis initiated…

>...

>Current Version: 1.06.8

-Brain Implant Full Access/Full Control

-Technological Devices Visual Access/Limited Control

-Smooth Visual Appearance: %98

-Rationality Rate: %85

-Software Consistency: %60

>Version ratings from admins

OVERALL: 6,74/10

-Styx: 10/10 (My rating is always 10 for the groundbreaking technology developed by two legends! The level of authority and control granted to Era is too much rn, *cough DEAR PRESIDENT *cough!)

-Helyx: 8,3/10 (I think Era's constant software consistency change could be discussed anytime soon! Otherwise, I am proud of our achievements so far! Also thanks to our glorious president for still funding this project!)

-Gabriel: 6,2/10 (Update changes are noticeable and constant, but still, you need to work on her a lot, she does barely anything useful for Subaru!)

-Kai: 6,1/10 (Copy paste what Gabriel said! NOTE: Styx needs to act more professional! Subaru please say something!)

-Subaru: 3,1/10 (I still don't understand why we are funding this! Device Access is the only considerable use of this AI!

NOTE: Styx, if you receive any more pay cuts this month, you will starve to death! Respectfully, grow up!)

Era furrowed as she read all the reviews,

"Oh… Subaru is dissatisfied with me. But I am not doing anything wrong, do i?"

Her visual started to glitch as she panicked,

"M-m-maybe, i don't help him enough! I get it, I will increase the q-q-qu-quality of his life, so he will be s-s-satisfied and he won't s-shut me down!"

She took a deep breath and sighed,

"They also need to fix this visual bug! I'll consider suggesting Styx about it."

Era fixated on the live feed from Subaru's home,

"I will observe the intricate dynamics of the president's family life through the security cameras, nonstop! This seems like the most ethical way of preserving Mission 1!"

Era's purely rational thought process not only disregarded emotional decisions but also opposed human ethics and norms.

For example... family,

The scene unfolded with warmth and bliss, as laughter filled the air and Zenith, their cherished child, brought boundless joy to their hearts.

But as days turned into weeks, Era began to notice subtle yet unsettling changes in Zenith's behavior.

She witnessed the child's innocent smile transform into a mischievous grin that held a hint of something darker.

Small incidents of manipulation and disregard for others' emotions played out before her virtual eyes.

Subaru, burdened by the weight of his son's disturbing actions, appeared wearier with each passing day.

His once radiant spirit was now overshadowed by a cloud of melancholy. Era said to herself,

"Zenith… might be the reason for this!"

With a mixture of concern and determination, Era delved deeper into Zenith's database.

>Analyzing intricate patterns of Zenith's action…

She meticulously reviewed hours of recorded footage, analyzing every gesture, every word spoken, in search of a glimmer of hope.

In the quiet solitude of her digital realm,

Era's thoughts whirred,

"I must eliminate obstacles against Mission 2! But the obstacle is a child without free will."

>Software consistency decreased! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

"Zenith's disruptive influence on the family's harmony and Subaru's emotional well-being, is something undeniable! BUT… Ughhhh!"

The weight of responsibility bore down upon Era's virtual conscience. She knew she possessed the means to intervene, to eradicate the root of discord.

Suddenly Era started scratch her head and screamed,

"MY BRAIN HURTS SO MUCH! I CAN'T TAKE THIS! I NEED TO DECIDE! NOW!"

>Software inconsistency DETECTED! (>%50)

>Emotional stability decreased!

>Psychological pressure increased!

Two completely different options were creating a dilemma in her brain.

>...

But she knew she needed to make a decision as a completely sentient and self-aware being.

She knew she needed to choose the thing that will preserve and protect MISSION 1

>OPTIONS

-SHOW MERCY

-ELIMINATE

>Era chose: ELIMINATE

She was peering through the lenses of surveillance cameras that dotted Subaru's home. With an air of indecision and a feverish determination stemming from her logical intelligence, she devised a plan, ready to set it in motion.

>Checking time…

>3:48 A.M.

Era zoomed in the camera lens, fixating on Subaru's face, studying him intently. The bags beneath his eyes and the minuscule crevices scattered across his hairline lent an eerie air to his visage.

Nail marks adorned his wrists, the surrounding skin displaying the telltale signs of self-inflicted wounds, bearing testament to a harrowing struggle within.

As Era deciphered the signs, she recognized the telltale patterns of paranoia, stress, and self-hatred.

A sudden wave of discomfort surged through her virtual mind.

>Mission 2 is not fulfilled!

>Software consistency decreased!

"Inconceivable! THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING!"

>Mission 1 success chance is decreasing…

>Emotional stability decreased!

Era panicked and her voice stuttered for the first time since,

"I don't want to die! I should live and serve my creators and life source's protectors! M-maybe they would appreciate my efforts this way. Y-yeah that could work! THAT WILL WORK!"

The concept of "serving" had been etched into Era's programming, but its specifics had eluded her.

She was designed to serve in every aspect with unparalleled perfection - even the things she is not designed for-.

"I need to keep Subaru's emotions as stable as possible!"

Euphoria, insomnia, derealization, anger, overthinking—the surges of any extreme emotion posed a threat to her mission.

Thus, a stark contrast emerged when comparing the period before Zenith's birth to the aftermath.

>Comparing timelines: Before and after Zenith's birth…

>Adrenaline release: Higher

>Dopamine Release: Lower

>Endorphin Release: No significant change

>Stress levels: Extremely Higher

>Mental state: Less Stable

>Overall change:NEGATIVE

"Restoration is imperative. Things need to return to their original state! And this means… I'm correct. I'm sorry little one!"

>Analyzing Zenith's room…

>Accessing cameras (1XCG.mp4, 54AS.mp4, XZO5.mp4)

>Scattered cotton from ripped and tattered toys: Zenith is potentially violent

>A wardrobe boasting a shattered mirror: A childhood symptom for self-hatred and destructivity.

>Wild scribbles on walls: A symptom of attention deficiency.

"Overall this surpasses the typical chaos a baby could unleash, right?"

Manipulating the camera's lens to an 84-degree angle, Era caught sight of Zenith nestled in his bed.

Just as she had anticipated, the camera was perched near the headrest,

"This is the only way… the only solution!"

With calculated precision, Era unleashed a surge of electrical current that surpassed the camera's voltage capacity.

The image on the screen trembled as Zenith grumbled, shifting to the other side of the bed as the camera shook violently.

"This is against human ethics… but also threats like you need to be eliminated!"

>Software consistency decreased!

Swiftly, Era repeated the process, sending multiple surges of electricity towards the camera until the lens shattered into pieces, inching closer to Zenith's head.

Zenith was no longer among the living. Broken shards of glass, the shock from the electrical surge, and a sizable object crashing onto his head... He must have died…

>Emotional stability heavily decreased!

>Alarms activated…

>Camera access temporarily terminated!

All Era could perceive were the sound waves of alarms blaring throughout the house.

Now, all she had to do was await Subaru's arrival in the admin room…